The Scoop on Mold, and What to Do About It

Many people don’t realize it, but mold contamination is an especially difficult problem for Corpus Christi residents during the winter. As temperature outside the home gets colder, points of contact between the warm inside air and cold outside air can come together and leave condensation on walls, ceilings and other parts of the home.  Mold is dependent on moisture for growth and thrives in the condensation when warm and cold air clash. Mold can be very dangerous, with health consequences ranging from runny nose, watery eyes, and coughing to potentially fatal infections. Fortunately, there are a do’s and don’t you can follow to minimize your risk:

• Don’t keep your attic warm in the winter as barrier to the cold outside, as so many people mistakenly do. Instead, make sure your insulation is top-notch.  This keeps you warm without allowing an unwanted mix of warm and cold air to create condensation anywhere in the home.  Also repair any water leaks in your home.
• Consider ventilating your attic; otherwise, moisture from activities such as washing dishes, showering and cooking can rise to the attic and spur molds to grow.  Even better is installing a continuous ridge vent.
• Vacuum and clean regularly.  Mold is not always obvious to the eye but consistent monitoring of nooks and crannies can eliminate mold before it has time to significantly grow.  Regularly empty the refrigerator drip pan and look for signs of growth along the refrigerator walls.
• Add rugs to areas of your house known to have moisture, such as a bathroom.
• Use a whole house dehumidifier if problems persist after trying the other solutions.

For more tips on preventing mold in the winter, and other issues related to the heating and cooling of your Corpus Christi home, please contact us at CCAC, Inc., proudly serving South Texas for more than 20 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about preventing mold and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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